Caladium plant named ‘Tenderness’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Tenderness’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; short plant size; uniform plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; lance-type leaves with light to greyed green-colored venation, light red purple-colored interveinal areas and dark green-colored borders and margins; and good landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TENDERNESS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a lance leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tenderness’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive foliage coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2002 in Lake Placid, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Pink Symphony’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. on Jun. 15, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Tenderness’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tenderness’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit; short plant size.     -   2. Uniform plant habit.     -   3. Vigorous and dense growth habit.     -   4. Lance-type leaves with light to greyed green-colored         venation, light red purple-colored interveinal areas and dark         green-colored borders and margins.     -   5. Good landscape performance.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Pink Symphony’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are more compact than plants of         ‘Pink Symphony’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘Pink         Symphony’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are more oval than and         not as elongate as leaves of plants of ‘Pink Symphony’.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Pink Symphony’ differ in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Pink Symphony’ have         green-colored venation, deep pink-colored interveinal areas and         green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘White Wing’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are more compact than and not as         upright as plants of ‘White Wing’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are broader than leaves         of plants of ‘White Wing’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Wing’ differ in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘White Wing’ have         white-colored venation and interveinal areas with mottled light         and dark green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium ‘Thai Beauty’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Avon Park, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Thai Beauty’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were compact and denser than         plants of ‘Thai Beauty’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster than plants of ‘Thai         Beauty’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium were more rounded and         broader than leaves of plants of ‘Thai Beauty’.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Thai Beauty’ differed in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Thai Beauty’ had white and         green-colored venation, deep pink-colored interveinal areas and         green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium ‘Florida Sweetheart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Avon Park, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more compact than plants of         ‘Florida Sweetheart’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew slower than plants of         ‘Florida Sweetheart’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium were more round and         smoother than leaves of plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differed         in leaf coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’         had dark pink-colored venation, rose pink-colored interveinal         areas surrounded by thin green-colored borders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Tenderness’ grown in a 15-cm container in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet is a comparison view of potted plants of ‘Tenderness’ grown in 15-cm containers, the plant on the left has had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has not had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a top perspective view of typical plants of ‘Tenderness’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Tenderness’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Tenderness’.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the male parent, ‘White Wing’ (left), ‘Tenderness’ (center) and the female parent, ‘Pink Symphony’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Thai Beauty’ (lower left), ‘Tenderness’ (center) and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (lower right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in Avon Park, Fla. in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% shade) and plants grown during the autumn in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Zolfo Springs, Fla. All plants were grown under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery Caladium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C. (shadehouse) or 29° C. to 35° C. (outdoor nursery), night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. (shadehouse) or 23° C. to 26° C. (outdoor nursery) and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoor nursery). Plants grown in the shadehouse were eight weeks old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. Plants grown in the outdoor nursery were six months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Tenderness’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Pink             Symphony’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             ovate in shape. Height: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About             5.3 cm. Texture: Thick and starchy; somewhat brittle. Color:             Epidermis, freshly harvested, close to 199D and 159B to 159C             tinged with close to 56D; epidermis, dried tuber, close to             200A to 200B; interior, close to 3D; axillary buds, close to             155C to 155D. Root description: Thick, fleshy contractile             roots; color, close to 155C. Rooting habit: Few lateral             branches; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit;             short plant size; inverted triangle; vigorous and dense             growth habit; rapid growth rate; petioles and leaves arise             from one or more growing points on tubers; petioles mostly             upright and slightly leaning outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 18 cm to 21 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 27 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 40 cm to 46 cm.         -   Number of clumps per plant, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About seven from de-eyed tubers.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About             4.5 cm to 8 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 1.9 cm. Shape:             Deltoid. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Sheathing the stem. Color,             outer surface: Close to N170D tinged with close to 148B,             streaked and speckled with close to 147A tinged with close             to N199B; with development, color becoming closer to 200C.             Color, inner surface: Close to N155C; colors and patterns             visible from outer surface. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 14 cm to 19             cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants (flattened).—About 8.5             cm to 12.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate to cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire; broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,             upper surface: Basal notch: Close to 60A. Midrib: Close to             195D; distally, close to 147C to 147D. Primary and secondary             venation: Close to 147C to 147D. Interveinal areas: Random             sectors, close to 155C variably tinged with close to 53D;             and close to 147A, 146B and 194D. Borders and margins: Close             to 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Basal notch:             Close to 60A. Midrib: Close to 145C tinged with close to             N170D; distally, close to 147C. Primary and secondary             venation: Close to 147C. Interveinal areas: Random sectors,             close to 155C variably tinged with close to 53D; and close             to 147B and N155D. Borders and margins: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Basal notch: Close to 60A.             Midrib: Close to 195D. Primary and secondary venation: Close             to 147D. Interveinal areas: Random sectors, close to 155C             variably tinged with close to 53D; and close to 53D. Borders             and margins: Close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Midrib: Close to 145C tinged with close to N170D.             Primary and secondary venation: Close to 146D. Interveinal             areas: Random sectors, close to 155C variably tinged with             close to 53D. Borders and margins: Close to 147B.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, leaning and curving outwardly             with development; flexible. Length, shadehouse-grown potted             plants: About 14 cm to 16.5 cm. Diameter, distal,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 3 mm to 3.8 mm.             Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 6             mm to 9.5 mm. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants: Close             to 199D and N170D tinged with close to 148B, densely             streaked and speckled with close to N199B tinged with close             to 147A; below the leaf/petiole junction, close to 147B.             Wing length, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 3 cm to             5 cm. Wing diameter, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 7             mm to 9 mm. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             outer surface: Close to N170D tinged with close to 148B and             streaked and speckled with close to 147A tinged with close             to N199B. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants, inner             surface: Close to N155C; colors and patterns visible from             outer surface. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on eight-week old     shadehouse-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers arranged on the             lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers arranged on the             upper two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop at             junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season/longevity.—Plants of the new             Caladium typically flower during the spring or early summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about eight weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length: About 10 cm; upper open length, about 7.5 cm             and lower closed length, about 2.5 cm. Width, distal: About             2.8 cm. Width, proximal: About 2.4 cm. Width, at             constriction: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Ovate to somewhat             obovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Tapering to the peduncle.             Margin: Entire; slightly reflexed. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, front surface, fully             opened: Upper two-thirds: Close to 155B faintly tinged with             close to 56D; with development, color becoming closer to             199B and 200C. Lower one-third: Close to 148B to 148C with             areas of close to 145C; lightly flushed with close to 187A             towards the base; color does not change with development.             Color, rear surface, fully opened: Upper two-thirds: Close             to 155B tinged with close to 56D and variably marked with             close to 144C and 147B. Lower one-third: Marbled with random             areas close to 147A to 147B, 157A and 155A.         -   Spadix.—Length: About 6.9 cm. Length, male flower zone:             About 4.6 cm. Length, sterile flower zone: About 9 mm.             Length, female flower zone: About 1.4 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 1.1 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 7 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 8 mm. Shape:             Columnar. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright.             Color, mature, male zone: Close to 11C tinged with close to             162D. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to 11C tinged with             close to 162D. Color, mature, female zone: Close to 155D.             Male flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 169. Shape:             Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Pollen             amount: None observed. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix:             About 143. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close             to 155C.         -   Scape.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Erect or slightly             curved. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; glaucous. Color: Close to             148A with longitudinal stripes (venation), close to 147A;             just below the spathe, close to 147B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance/resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have     been observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf     Spot and average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Tenderness’ as illustrated and described. 